TYSONS, Va.–PenFed Credit Union said it has partnered with wear blue: run to remember, a national nonprofit building a community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military through active remembrance, for a Memorial Day weekend event to help the tens of thousands of surviving spouses, children, parents and siblings who still grieve the loss of a service member killed in combat operations.
The objective is to build a national living memorial dedicated to our nation’s fallen military heroes.
“Registering through the wear blue: run to remember hero match website, runners and walkers from across the nation will create a living memorial by taking purposeful steps on Memorial Day for the fallen hero they receive through their match,” PenFed said. “With each registration and with each step, participants are ensuring that the stories and sacrifices of these brave men and women are not forgotten.
Seeking to Match Runners, Heroes
According to PenFed, this year’s Memorial Day event is striving to match each fallen hero since the first days of the Vietnam War with a runner or walker. The credit union added that to learn the stories, speak the names, and honor the legacies of these 65,502 fallen service members, runners and walkers can join the Memorial Day mission by registering now at http://www.wearblueruntoremember.org for no cost. Participants receive a unique bib to share the name of the service member whom they honor with their steps.
“It’s critically important to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, and the loved ones they left behind,” said James Schenck, president/CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of PenFed Foundation. “wear blue: run to remember provides a unique opportunity for Americans to honor fallen heroes, and we are proud to support them this Military Appreciation Month.”
Donation, Digital Support
In addition to a $25,000 donation from PenFed Credit Union, PenFed Digital is producing a social media campaign highlighting we are blue: run to remember and the stories of resiliency and bravery of Gold Star Families, the CU added.
“Led by Andrea McCarren, an award-winning nationally recognized journalist with decades of experience, PenFed Digital will be sharing excerpts of inspirational interviews with Gold Star Children and encouraging everyone to register to run or walk in honor of the fallen on PenFed’s social media channels,” the credit union said.
A video available here features Gold Star Daughter Heidi Hallett as she shares a heartfelt message about her dad and her reasons for running this Memorial Day.
wear blue: run to remember has an active global running community across 26 states, Germany and Japan. Those unable to join a run in-person, are being encouraged to join a virtual Circle of Remembrance on the wear blue website, during which names of military members killed in war will be spoken, PenFed said.